I 


A BACCALAUREATE  SERMON. 


YOUTH: 


Its  Importance,  Perils  and  Opportunities. 


BY  REV.  W.  C.  ROBERTS,  D.D.  LL.D., 

President  of  Lake  Forest  University. 


oG 
cO 
— T 


Delivered  at  Lake  Forest,  111.,  June  19,  1887. 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

AUG-1  - 1915 

”~~~’?REsVDENT'i»  OF  HCt 

CHICAGO: 

Geo.  K.  Hazlitt  & Co.,  Printers,  172  and  174  Clark  St. 
1887. 


A BACCALAUREATE  SERMON. 

V- 


YOUTH: 

Its  Importance,  Perils  and  Opportunities. 


BY  REV.  W.  C.  ROBERTS,  D.D.  LL.D., 

President  of  Lake  Forest  University. 


Delivered  at  Lake  Forest,  111.,  June  19,  1887. 


CHICAGO: 

Geo.  K.  Hazlitt  & Co.,  Printers,  172  and  174  Clark  St. 
1887. 


YOUTH; 


Its  Importance, 


J^erils  AND 


pPPOI\TUNITIES 


Psalm  144:  12. — “ That  our  sons  may  he  as  'plants  grown 
up  in  their  youth;  that  our  daughters  may  he  as  corner- 
stones, polished  after  the  similitude  of  a palace.” 

Tlie  precise  occasion  which  called  out  this  prayer  of 
David  is  not  positively  known.  Prom  the  tenor  of  the  petition, 
“ Rid  me  and  deliver  me  from  the  hand  of  strange  children,” 
we  infer  that  it  was  the  influx  of  a large  number  of  foreigners 
into  Palestine,  or  the  adoption  by  the  people  of  heathen  cus- 
toms during  a season  of  general  peace  and  friendly  relations. 
Whatever  may  have  been  the  occasion,  it  caused  the  King  to 
fear  that  influences  were  coming  in  that  would  interfere  wflth 
the  spiritual  growth  of  the  young,  injure  the  morals  of  society 
and  undermine  the  most  important  pillars  of  his  theocratic 
kingdom.  In  view  of  this,  he  cried  to  God  for  aid.  He 
begged  of  him  to  rescue  the  land  and  to  deliver  its  people  out 
of  the  hand  of  the  strangers  whose  mouth  spoke  vanity  and 
whose  right  hand  was  the  right  hand  of  falsehood,  that  the  sons 
of  the  chosen  people  might  be  as  plants  grown  up  in  their  youth, 
and  that  their  daughters  might  be  as  corner-stones  polished 
after  the  similitude  of  a palace. 

It  is  implied  in  the  context  that  the  King  felt  sure  that  the 
false  views  and  the  corrupt  practices  of  the  strangers  would 
prove  contagious,  and  in  the  highest  degree  dangerous  to  the 
young.  He  knew  well  the  strength  of  the  imitative  faculty 
and  the  ease  with  which  it  impels  those  who  are  in  early  life 
to  follow  the  examples  set  before  them.  He  was  satisfied  that 
the  youth  of  his  kingdom  would  adopt  the  strangers’  principles, 
imbibe  their  spirit,  and  walk  in  their  ways.  The  probable 


4 


effect  of  this  upon  the  spiritual  interests  of  the  nation  filled 
his  heart  with  alarm. 

It  is  further  implied  in  the  context  that  the  psalmist  as 
king,  parent,  guardian  and  prophet,  felt  that  he  was  under 
obligation  to  care  for  the  morals  of  the  young.  In  that  matter 
he  has  left  a noteworthy  example  to  all  coming  ages.  !Nfit 
many  kings  deem  it  incumbent  upon  them  to  pray  God  to  rid 
their  countries  of  incomers  whose  bad  example  is  certain  to 
corrupt  the  minds  of  the  people;  thousands  of  parents  fail  to 
protect  their  children  against  the  contaminating  influences  of 
wicked  associates ; most  guardians  satisfy  themselves  that  their 
responsibilities  end  with  their  care  of  the  property  and  the 
intellectual  training  of  their  wards;  and  the  sentiment  is  gain- 
ing  ground — happily  not  here — that  the  Professors  of  our 
Colleges  and  Universities  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  moral 
character  of  their  students. 

The  conduct  of  David  as  set  forth  in  this  psalm  is  a severe 
rebuke  to  all  these  classes  of  men.  He  shows  that  he  regarded 
it  as  his  unquestioned  duty  to  carry  the  youth  of  his  kingdom 
to  God’s  throne,  and  to  pray  that  they  might  be  kept  from  the 
corrupting  influences  to  which  they  were  exposed.  He  did 
this  under  the  profoundest  conviction  that  the  moral  character 
of  the  young  was  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  perpetuation 
and  prosperity  of  his  kingdom.  If  their  character  could  be 
kept  pure,  upright  and  godlike,  the  future  of  the  land  would 
be  safe,  even  after  the  fathers  had  gone  to  their  rest. 

The  subject  to  which  I invite  your  attention  is  Youth — its 
importance,  its  perils,  and  its  opportunities. 

In  many  respects  youth  is  the  most  important  period  of 
human  life. 

First,  because  it  is  the  entrance  into  life — the  starting  point 
of  an  endless  career  of  weal  or  of  woe.  As  the  whole  of  our 
present  life  is  a preparation  for  an  entrance  into  the  higher 
life  of  the  world  to  come — the  ante-chamber  of  the  eternal 
temple  or  the  prison  of  despair — so  is  youth  the  season  of  pre- 
paration for  future  success  or  failure — the  ante -chamber  of  an 
honorable  or  miserable  life.  Observation  and  experience  con- 
inue  to  confirm  the  truthfulness  of  Wordsworth’s  aphorism 


D 


that  “ the  boy  is  father  to  the  man.”  In  nearly  every  case  the 
foundation  of  future  success  or  failure  is  laid  in  early  life,  in 
the  home  or  in  the  school.  The  skilled  artisan  who  is  usually 
entrusted  with  the  construction  of  the  important  parts  of  every 
work  of  art,  was  a dutiful  son,  a diligent  student,  and  a faith- 
ful apprentice;  the  princely  merchant  who  handles  his  millions 
and  manages  interests  that  encircle  the  globe  was  in  early  life 
the  bright  boy  who  promptly  attended  to  his  mother’s  behests 
and  swept  the  store  so  well  that  he  attracted  the  attention  alike 
of  customer  and  proprietor;  the  president  or  manager  of  the 
great  railroad  is  the  man  whose  boyhood  was  marked  by  quick- 
ness of  perception  and  promptness  of  execution;  the  great 
statesman  who  is  to-day  controlling  the  destinies  of  nations 
was  in  early  life  a hard  plodder  and  diligent  reader;  and  the 
ripe  Christian  whose  closing  days  are  brilliant  with  sunset 
clouds  that  are  radiant  with  heavenly  light,  was  in  boyhood 
the  believing  child  of  the  covenant,  the  apt  Sabbath-school 
scholar  and  the  consistent  church  member. 

Youth  is  the  most  important  period  of  life , also , because 
it  is  that  in  ivhich  men  form  their  habits.  Habit  is  one’s 
second  nature,  the  law  of  his  condition,  which  is  sure  to  prove 
a help  or  a hindrance  in  the  great  conflicts  of  life.  Habit 
renders  stable  that  which  has  been  fluctuating,  pleasant  that 
which  has  been  painful,  strong  that  which  has  been  weak,  easy 
that  which  has  been  difficult  and  morally  certain  that  which 
has  been  doubtful.  Hence,  it  is  safe  to  predict  that  the  future 
pathway  of  the  youth  who  forms  correct  and  virtuous  habits 
will  be  gilded  with  light  brighter  than  that  of  noon-day,  and 
that  the  future  of  him  who  forms  vicious  and  degrading  habits 
will  be  darker  than  a starless  night. 

Few  in  youth  realize  the  importance  of  forming  good  habits. 
If  a young  man  grow  up  thoughtful,  pure  in  heart  and  life, 
industrious,  truthful  and  punctual,  his  future,  no  matter  what 
maybe  his  circumstances,  will  be  honorable  and  useful.  Such 
an  one  is  very  seldom  led  astray  in  later  life.  The  habits  which 
he  forms  in  youth  prove  his  safeguards  by  gathering  around  him 
influences  which,  like  munitions  of  rocks,  protect  his  paths. 
It  is  not  often,  on  the  other  hand,  that  an  idle,  wasteful, 


6 


untruthful  and  intemperate  youth  is  brought  to  lead  a life  of 
industry,  frugality,  truthfulness,  and  sobriety.  In  his  thought- 
ful moments,  even  such  an  one  may  at  times  resolve  upon  a 
reformation,  but  his  bad  habits  like  strong  cables  will  keep 
him  to  his  old  ways  and  fasten  him  to  his  wicked  associates. 

Youth,  moreover,  is  the  most  important  period  of  life 
because  it  is  the  period  of  strength  and  action.  The  com- 
parison in  the  text  between  youth  and  plants  implies  strength. 
The  apostle  John  tells  young  men  that  he  writes  to  them, 
because  “ they  are  strong .”  At  this  time  of  life  their  heart  is 
brave,  their  hope  bright,  their  step  firm  and  their  motion  rapid. 
If  they  are  on  the  downward  grade,  with  what  velocity  do  they 
reach  the  bottom ! If  on  the  upward  grade,  they  soon  reach  the 
summit  in  spite  of  difficulties  and  dangers.  The  history  of 
the  past  furnishes  us  with  numberless  examples  of  men  who, 
before  reaching  years  of  maturity,  performed  many  noble 
deeds  of  daring,  accomplished  important  feats  of  statemanship, 
and  composed  treatises  that  will  outlast  the  ages.  A mere 
stripling,  the  son  of  Jesse,'  slew  the  giant  of  the  Philistines  and 
turned  the  tide  of  war  in  favor  of  God’s  people.  Hannibal 
was  but  twenty  years  of  age  when  he  led  to  victory  the  armies 
of  Carthage.  Alexander  the  Great  had  mastered  the  known 
wTorld  before  he  was  five  and  thirty  years  old.  The  first 
Hapoleon  was  but  a beardless  youth  when  he  led  his  brilliant 
campaigns  in  Italy,  routed  the  forces  of  Austria,  and  exacted 
from  the  house  of  Hapsburgh  peace  on  his  own  terms.  John 
Calvin  was  hardly  of  age  when  he  penned  his  immortal  Insti- 
tutes. Bolingbroke  and  Pitt  were  ministers  of  State  before 
the  majority  of  young  men  receive  their  diplomas  from  college, 
and  the  latter  was  Prime  Minister  of  England  before  he  was 
twenty-five. 

Many  look  upon  these  extraordinary  cases  as  illustrations 
of  mere  chance!  But  there  is  no  such  thing  as  chance.  The 
idea  is  heathen.  Christianity  teaches  us  that  the  principles  of 
the  divine  government  connect  men’s  lives  and  actions  with  all 
the  results  that  flow  from  them.  The  farmer  who  neglects  the 
cultivation  of  the  soil  in  spring  is  sure  to  reap  the  results  of 
his  negligence.  The  merchant  who  disregards  the  conditions 


7 


of  commercial  success  will  be  sure  to  feel  the  consequences  of 
his  folly,  to  his  disappointment  if  not  confusion.  In  like 
manner,  the  youth  who  habitually  neglects  the  cultivation  of 
his  heart,  the  formation  of  good  habits,  and  attention  to  the 
commands  of  God  will  inevitably  come  to  grief. 

Youth , in  the  second  place,  is  a period  of  peril.  A con- 
viction of  this  led  the  psalmist  to  pray,  “ Kid  me  and  deliver 
me  from  the  hand  of  strange  children.”  It  is  more  than 
probable  that  those  for  whom  he  prayed  had  very  little  appre- 
hension of  their  danger.  The  young  are  always  reluctant  to 
accept  the  result  of  others’  experience;  they  insist  on  trying 
the  experiment  for  themselves.  Even  when  they  yield  to  the 
judgment  of  parents  or  friends,  they  entertain  a secret  con- 
viction that,  by  so  doing,  they  are  depriving  themselves  of 
pleasures  which  others,  not  so  ready  to  bow  to  authority  enjoy. 
The  increase  of  wealth  and  the  advancement  of  science  have 
largely  augmented  these  perils.  Instead  of  the  gross  indul- 
gences of  past  ages  which  would  repel  the  cultured  youth  of 
our  day,  we  have  the  relined  and  seductive  ones,  but  they  are 
no  less  insidious  and  corrupting. 

Among  the  perils  which  threaten  youth  from  within , the 
first  is  the  native  depravity  of  their  own  heart.  David  tells  us 
that  he  was  born  in  iniquity  and  conceived  in  sin.  Observa- 
tion and  experience  unite  in  emphasizing  the  fact  that  all  have 
gone  out  of  the  way,  and  become  estranged  from  God  and 
righteousness.  There  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one. 
Their  nature  is  tainted  with  sin,  and  their  will  is  not  obedient 
to  the  Divine  commands.  In  spite  of  the  amiability  of  tem- 
per, sweetness  of  disposition,  and  purity  of  life  in  the  case  of 
many,  there  is  underneath  and  back  of  all  these  “ a heart  of 
unbelief  in  departing  from  the  living  God.” 

In  addition  to  this  taint  of  native  depravity  common  to  all, 
there  is  found  in  many  a hereditary  predisposition  to  this  and 
that  indulgence  ruinous  to  the  interests  of  the  soul.  It  is  a 
conceded  fact  that  tastes,  appetites,  and  affections  descend 
from  father  to  son.  The  descendants  of  drunkards  and 
debauchees  receive  not  only  a depraved  nature,  but  also  an 
inherited  tendency  to  the  vices  of  their  fathers.  We  have  seen 


8 


as  many  as  three  or  four  generations  of  gormandizers,  inebri- 
ates and  debauchees.  Thus  impure  streams  flow  down  from 
generation  to  generation  to  pollute  the  already  turbid  springs 
of  youth. 

The  imagination,  also,  is  a source  of  peril.  At  this  time  of 
life  it  is  especially  strong  and  difficult  to  control.  It  wanders 
at  will  through  forbidden  fields  in  spite  of  the  bit  and  bridle 
used  to  check  it.  Its  constructive  power  is  amazing.  Out  of 
the  most  meagre  materials  it  makes  a paradise  that  vies  with 
that  of  Mohammed,  or  digs  a dungeon  that  compares  in  drear- 
iness with  the  land  of  despair.  All  its  creations  are  reflections 
of  the  soul’s  tendencies.  That  of  Byron  tints  everything  it 
touches  with  the  bewitching  hues  of  sensuality;  that  of  Shelley 
puts  its  apples  of  gold  in  gilded  pictures  of  infidelity;  and  that 
of  Shakespeare  sets  forth  its  characters  in  the  strong  and 
variegated  lights  of  jealousy,  or  the  loose  customs  of  the  age. 
The  imagination  paints  the  inner  emotions  of  the  heart  as 
wTell  as  the  outward  actions  of  life.  It  depicts  the  joys  of  the 
drunkard,  the  sensations  of  the  novel  reader,  and  the  excite- 
ment of  the  theatre,  or  of  the  house  of  the  strange  woman. 
This  tends  to  delude  the  mind  and  pollute  the  heart.  “ Low 
images  presented  to  the  mind,”  says  President  M’Cosh,  “ will 
incite  mean  motives.  Lustful  pictures  will  foment  licentious 
purposes,  which  will  hurry  the  individual  when  occasion  pre- 
sents itself  and  permits,  into  the  commission  of  the  deed. 
Gloomy  thoughts  will  give  downward  bend  and  look,  and 
darken  with  their  hues  the  brightest  prospects  which  life  can 
disclose.  Envious  or  malignant  thoughts  will  sour  the  spirit 
and  embitter  the  temper.” 

Moreover,  the  love  of  pleasure  is  a source  of  peril.  The 
heart  in  youth  dances  to  every  note  of  gayety  and  mirth.  It  is 
a principle  of  our  nature  to  seek  pleasure,  and  there  is  no  harm 
in  it,  so  long  as  it  is  kept  within  legitimate  bounds.  It  must 
be  rational  and  occasional,  and  not  sensual  and  habitual.  Dif- 
ferences of  opinion  are  entertained,  however,  as  to  where  the 
highest  pleasures  are  to  be  found.'  Solomon,  who  had  abund- 
ant opportunities  to  taste  all  the  streams  of  earthly  pleasure^ 
tells  us  that  the  ways  of  religion  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and 


9 


that  all  her  paths  are  paths  of  peace;  that  length  of  days  is 
in  her  right  hand  and  in  her  left  hand  riches  and  honor.  The 
young  do  not  generally  accept  this  decision  of  the  wise  man. 
The  lovers  of  amusements  and  sensuous  indulgences  imagine 
that  they  have  far  better  times  than  those  who  frequent  the 
sanctuary  and  walk  in  the  ways  of  holiness.  The  thousands 
who  have  no  higher  aim  in  life  than  to  eat,  to  drink  and  to  be 
merry  congratulate  themselves  on  their  exemption  from  the 
drudgery  of  the  office,  or  the  hard  study  of  the  college,  over- 
looking the  fact  that  for  all  these  God  will  call  them  to  judg- 
ment. Students  who  find  their  highest  pleasure  in  freedom 
from  work,  and  the  indulgence  of  their  appetites,  often  pity 
their  classmates  who  devote  ten  or  twelve  hours  a day  to  por- 
ing over  dry  books,  not  knowing  that  a single  drop  of  the 
pleasure  arising  from  performing  one’s  duty,  conquering  diffi- 
culties, or  standing  at  the  head  of  the  class,  is  worth  more  than 
rivers  of  the  pleasure  arising  from  ease  and  self-indulgence. 
“ Mere  sensuous  pleasure,”  says  old  Thomas  Brooks,  “ is  a 
beautiful  harlot  sitting  in  her  chariot,  whose  four  wheels  are 
pride,  gluttony,  lust  and  idleness.  The  two  horses  are  pros- 
perity and  abundance;  the  two  drivers  are  indolence  and 
security;  her  attendants  and  followers  are  guilt,  late  repentance 
and,  often,  death  and  ruin.” 

Youthful  lusts  are  a source  of  peril.  Paul  exhorts  Timothy 
to  flee  youthful  lusts.  They  are  of  two  kinds,  namely,  lusts  of 
the  body  and  lusts  of  the  soul.  All  the  appetites  and  propen- 
sities of  our  lower  nature  are  peculiarly  strong  at  this  time  of 
life.  Constant  watchfulness  and  unabated  effort  are  demand- 
ed to  keep  them  from  turning  the  young  from  the  path  of 
usefulness  and  honor  into  that  of  wickedness  and  shame.  Then, 
lusts  of  the  soul  in  the  shape  of  ambition  often  lead  the  noblest 
youth  to  disregard  the  demands  of  God  and  the  rights  of  men; 
in  the  shape  of  ostentation,  to  extravagance  and  financial  ruin; 
or  in  the  shape  of  covetousness,  into  dishonesty  and  positive 
penury.  The  danger  in  this  direction  cannot  be  exaggerated. 
No  warning  from  the  pulpit  can  be  too  loud  and  no  entreaty 
from  the  home  too  importunate.  The  sick-bed  and  insane 
asylum,  the  hospital  and  workhouse,  the  prison  and  the  pre- 


10 


mature  grave  unite  in  emphasizing  the  apostle’s  injunction 
to  “flee  youthful  lusts.” 

The  appetites  of  the  body,  are  a source  of  peril.  I shall 
dwell  only  on  the  craving  for  strong  drink.  One  would  sup- 
pose that  a man  of  upright  tendencies  and  high  scholarship 
would  never  allow  himself  to  become  a slave  to  an  indulgence 
so  degrading,  but  experience  proves  that  this  is  not  so.  All  of 
you  know  the  superior  scholarship  and  miserable  end  of  Ri ch- 
ard Porson.  With  a memory  able  to  retain  everything  he 
read,  wTith  a faculty  that  enabled  him  to  impersonate  any 
author  Greek  or  Roman,  or  in  the  broken  parchment  of  faded 
manuscript  to  perceive  instinctively  what  Tacitus,  Aeschylus 
or  Pindar  intended  to  say,  with  a writ  that  drew  around  him 
the  scholars  and  nobles  of  a realm,  he  so  completely  degraded 
himself  by  the  use  of  wine,  that  he  was  cast  out  of  the  exalted 
circle  of  which  he  was  the  centre  and  the  circumference. 
Scotland  has  never  had  a poet  thatcharmed  the  hardy  yeoman- 
ry of  the  Highlands  and  the  Lowlands  like  Robert  Burns — 
master  alike  of  its  pathos,  humor  and  chivalry.  But,  alas! 
even  that  bird  of  Paradise,  as  he  has  been  called,  descended 
from  such  flights  as  that  of  “Mary  in  Heaven”  to  the  fume 
and  filth  of  the  lowest  grog-shops  in  the  realm.  “ Once  a year,” 
says  Dr.  Guthrie,  “a  pale  and  haggard  man  bearing  the  title  of 
minister  appears  before  the  bar  of  his  church.  Hot  daring  to 
look  up,  he  bends  there  with  his  head  buried  in  his  hands, 
blushes  on  his  face,  his  lips  quivering,  and  a hell  raging — burn- 
ing within  him  as  he  thinks  of  home,  a broken  hearted  wife,  and 
the  little  ones  so  soon  to  leave  him  to  shelter  their  innocent 
heads  as  best  they  may.”  If  the  honor  of  being  the  foremost 
scholar  in  the  United  Kingdom  could  not  keep  Porson  from  dis* 
grace ; if  the  privilege  of  being  the  idol  of  a cultivated  people 
could  not  keep  Burns  from  the  company  of  drunkards ; and  if 
the  constant  handling  of  the  sacred  vessels  of  the  sanctuary 
could  not  save  a Christian  minister  from  disgrace  and  ruin,  then, 
in  the  name  of  God,  let  him  that  thinketh  he  standeth  take 
heed  lest  he  fall. 

The  perils  of  youth  from  without  come  mainly  from  three 
sources,  namely,  from  wicked  associates,  bad  books,  and  low 


11 


places  of  amusement.  The  social  or  gregarious  element  is 
particularly  strong  in  the  young.  They  are  sure  to  seek  com- 
panions; and  they  do  it  frequently  before  they  possess  discrimi- 
nation to  select  the  right  kind.  Too  often,  alas!  they  attract 
to  themselves  the  indolent  and  largely  depraved,  who  in  time 
drag  them  into  the  cesspools  of  sin.  These  usually  begin 
their  wicked  work  by  assailing  with  sneers  the  credulity  of 
those  who  are  pious  and  their  willingness  to  obey  all  the  coun- 
sels of  parents  and  friends.  They  urge  them  to  enjoy  them- 
selves to  the  full,  intimating  that  they  have  but  one  life  to 
live;  to  pursue  the  course  which  their  own  inclinations  suggest, 
telling  them  that  these  have  been  implanted  by  God;  not  to 
allow  home  counsels  or  the  anticipation  of  a coming  judg- 
ment to  interfere  with  their  youthful  pleasures,  insinuating 
that  home  advice  and  Bible  warnings  should  be  regarded  by 
men  in  college  as  belonging  only  to  children ; and  to  pay  but 
little  attention  to  the  rules  and  the  requirements  of  the  church, 
but  to  eat  the  forbidden  fruit,  resting  assured  that  they  will 
not  die,  but  will  be  wiser  and  happier  for  doing  so.  The  mo- 
ment they  succeed  in  injecting  these  poisonous  sentiments  into 
the  mind,  they  find  but  little  trouble  in  leading  whithersoever 
they  will. 

Another  source  of  peril  is  bad  books.  In  some  respects, 
these  are  worse  than  wicked  companions,  because  they  are 
more  accessible  at  all  times  and  more  secretly  consulted.  Ours 
is  an  age  of  newspapers,  periodicals,  novels,  and  ponderous 
volumes  on  all  kinds  of  subjects.  Three  classes  of  books  are 
fruitful  sources  of  evil.  The  first  consists  of  low  works  of  fic- 
tion. I have  said  “low”  advisedly,  because  I do  not  regard 
all  books  of  fiction  as  bad.  Some  of  them  may  be  safely  put 
into  the  hands  of  our  sons  and  daughters  to  teach  them  morals 
and  show  them  how  many  promising  youths  have  been  wreck- 
ed in  gay  society.  Nevertheless,  I do  not  hesitate  to  allege 
that  a vast  number  of  them  are  injurious.  These  vitiate  the 
taste,  debase  the  intellect  and  demoralize  the  conduct.  The 
constant  reading  of  them  tends  inevitably  to  weaken  the  un- 
derstanding, sensualize  the  affections,  and  subject  the  noblest 


12 


powers  of  the  soul  to  the  control  of  a heated  if  not  corrupt 
imagination. 

The  second  class  of  bad  books  consist  of  those  which  teach 
principles  and  sentiments  subversive  of  the  truths  of  Scripture. 
Of  this  class  there  are  three  kinds.  First,  that  which  openly 
assails  the  foundations  of  Christianity,  as  for  example  the  works 
of  Paine,  Rousseau,  Yoltaire,  Hume,  Ingersoll.  For  the  most 
part  these  are  so  coarse  that  they  carry  with  them  their  own 
cure  to  men  and  women  of  culture.  They  probably  do  less 
harm  than  those  which  open  their  guns  upon  the  citadels  of  truth 
from  masked  batteries.  The  second  kind  of  books  is  that  which 
is  written  by  scientific  men  of  infidel  views.  Instead  of  gather- 
ing facts,  and  establishing  principles — the  true  vocation  of 
scientists — these  men  feel  called  upon  to  parade  hypotheses 
and  theories,  and  to  show  how  they  conflict  with  what  is  taught 
in  the  Bible.  Occasionally  men  like  Prof.  Draper  bring  up 
facts  of  science  to  discredit  the  mummeries  of  Popery,  the  ex- 
crescences of  the  Greek  church,  and  the  fungi  of  Protestantism, 
as  though  they  were  claimed  by  Christians  to  be  the  Rev- 
elation of  God.  There  is,  also,  a class  of  books  which 
profess  to  be  simple  expositions  of  the  teachings  of  nature,  but 
which  are  in  reality  nothing  but  sophistries  of  would-be 
scientists.  Their  authors  resort  to  sneers  rather  than  to 
arguments  to  show  that  the  teachings  of  the  Bible  are  false. 
The  brilliancy  of  their  style,  the  boldness  of  their  assertions, 
and  the  sublimity  of  their  pretentions  often  pass  among  the 
young  and  unlearned  for  real  ability  and  high  scientific  attain- 
ments ; whereas,  in  fact,  many  of  them  have  no  standing  what- 
ever among  truly  scientific  men. 

The  third  class  of  bad  books  is  that  which  contains  insinu- 
ations and  covert  expressions  intended  to  excite  doubt  and  un- 
dermine faith.  The  great  majority  of  our  youth  would  never 
think  of  studying  the  ponderous  volumes  of  metaphysicians 
on  pantheism  or  materialism,  but  they  drink  in  with  avidity 
the  equally  dangerous  doctrines  of  materialism  or  agnosticism 
when  sweetened  and  rendered  palatable  by  our  periodical 
writers.  “ This  whole  field  of  literature”  says  the  late  Henry 
Ward  Beecher,  “is  waving  with  unexampled  luxuriance  of 


13 


flower  and  vine  and  fruit;  but  the  poisonous  flower  every  where 
mingles  with  the  pure,  and  the  deadly  cluster  lays  its  cheek  on 
the  wholesome  grape;  nay,  in  the  same  cluster  grow  both  the 
harmless  and  the  hurtful  berry,  so  that  the  hand  can  hardly  be 
stretched  out  to  gather  flower  or  fruit,  without  coming  back 
poisoned,  paralyzed,  leprous!” 

A still  more  dangerous  class  is  that  which  abounds  in  im- 
pure thoughts  and  vulgar  expressions.  This  may  be  divided 
into  the  openly  obscene,  and  the  artfully  insinuating — both 
intended  to  excite  the  imagination  and  rouse  the  passions.  In 
spite  of  the  efforts  put  forth  by  the  society  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  obscene  books,  thousands  of  this  kind  find  their  way 
into  the  trunks  and  pockets  of  young  men  and  young  women 
in  our  schools  and  colleges.  Even  this  pestiferous  class  of 
books  is  less  dangerous  than  such  poetic  works  as  those  of 
Swinburne  and  Byron.  For  impurity  secreted  under  a profusion 
of  beauty  or  sandwiched  between  snow-white  lilies,  is  like  a 
murderous  friend  who  mingles  deadly  poison  with  the  sweet 
delicacies  intended  to  tempt  the  appetite.  The  doses  may  be 
smaller  and  therefore  slower  in  their  work  of  destruction,  but 
they  are  none  the  less  certain  of  accomplishing  the  end. 

The  last  source  of  danger  is  the  theatre  and  its  affiliated 
places  of  amusement.  In  late  years,  the  question  has  often 
been  raised  whether  or  not  the  theatre  is  bad  in  itself,  or  per  se. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  discuss  this  point,  for  it  is  sufficient  to 
say  that  the  theatre  is  never  without  its  connections,  and  all 
put  together  are  evil  and  only  evil  continually.  It  is  contended 
by  a few  that  the  theatre  is  a school  of  morals.  It  may  be  a 
school  of  morals  in  the  sense  that  the  reformatory  school  and 
the  penitentiary,  the  gallows  and  the  guillotine  are  schools  of 
morals.  If  we  concede  for  a moment  that  it  is  a school  of 
morals,  how  does  it  happen  that  the  teachers  in  it,  with  rare 
exceptions,  never  learn  their  own  lessons?  Why  is  it  that 
even  the  best  of  them  take  no,  or  very  little,  part  in  enter- 
prises intended  to  advance  public  morals?  How  is  it  that  so 
many  of  those  who  are  pure  and  honorable  among  them  never 
allow  their  families  to  receive  an  education  in  their  own 
school?  As  for  the  other  claims,  that  the  theatre  is  the  best 


14 


place  in  which  to  study  human  nature,  or  to  learn  oratory,  I 
have  only  to  say  that  it  is  not  equal  to  the  workshop,  the 
court-room  or  the  pulpit.  The  stilted  elocution  of  the  stage 
could  never  enforce  upon  the  heart  and  conscience  the  terrible 
realities  of  eternity,  convince  a hard-headed  jury,  or  rouse  the 
spirit  of  patriotism  in  a crowd  at  a political  meeting.  The 
style  is  obsolete,  and  not  at  all  fitted  to  the  practical  demands 
of  the  present  day.  It  may  excite  the  nerves,  affect  the  sensi- 
bilities, and  rouse  the  passions,  but  its  tendency  is  to  destroy 
that  delicacy  of  feeling  which  is  the  bulwark  of  chastity  and 
virtue,  and  to  extinguish  all  love  for  business  and  religion. 

The  opportunities  of  youth  are  great.  “ To  everything,” 
says  Solomon,  “ there  is  a season,  and  a time  to  every  purpose 
under  the  heaven.” 

“ There  is  a tide  in  the  affairs  of  men, 

Which,  taken  at  the  flood,  leads  on  to  fortune.” 

All  of  you  may  have  read  of  the  sculptor  who  invited  a few 
lovers  of  art  to  see  the  statues  of  gods  he  had  in  his  studio. 
One  of  these  attracted  special  attention  Its  face  was  con- 
cealed by  a thick  bushy  hair  and  each  of  its  feet  had  wings. 
When  asked  to  give  the  name  of  this  curious  deity,  the  sculp- 
tor answered — “that  is  Opportunity .”  “ Why  is  its  face  con- 

cealed?” “Because  men  seldom  know  him  when  he  comes  to 
them.”  “Why  has  he  wings  on  his  feet?”  “Because  he  is 
soon  gone,  and  once  gone,  can  not  be  overtaken.”  “ There  are 
moments,”  says  Dean  Alford,  “ which  are  worth  more  than 
years.  A stray,  unthought-of  five  minutes  may  contain  the 
event  of  a life.”  This  is  specially  true  in  religion.  “ They 
that  seek  me  early,”  says  God,  “ shall  find  me.”  The  oppor- 
tunities to  find  him  are  numerous  in  early  life.  It  is  not  to 
be  inferred  from  this,  however,  that  the  aged  have  no  oppor- 
tunity to  find  Him.  At  times,  the  Lord  magnifies  the  riches 
of  his  grace  by  drawing  one  and  another  into  his  service  at 
the  close  of  a lon^  and  wasted  life.  There  is  nothing  in 
his  purposes,  nothing  in  the  conditions  of  salvation,  and  noth- 
ing in  the  mission  of  the  Spirit  to  exclude  any  that  may  have 
stepped  over  a given  line.  At  wide  intervals  opportunities  are 


15 


afforded  this  and  that  one  in  advanced  years  to  give  God  even 
their  blighted  affections  and  worn  out  hearts.  When  the -world 
fails  to  till  the  soul  and  the  experience  of  sixty  years  has  pro- 
nounced all  earthly  things  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit,  an  in- 
vitation comes  to  turn  their  trembling  steps  from  its  broken 
cisterns  to  the  fountain  of  living  waters.  When  men 
have  become  convinced  by  long  and  hard  experience  that  earth 
has  no  pillow  without  its  thorns,  the  soft  whispers  now  and 
then  reach  their  ears — “ Lay  down,  thou  weary  one,  lay  down 
thy  head  upon  my  breast.” 

When  aged  fathers  turn  from  their  shattered  fortunes  and 
gay,  thoughtless  mothers  from  their  coffined  babes,  the  arms  of 
infinite  love  are  outstretched  to  receive  them.  The  poet  has 
correctly  put  in  verse  the  teachings  of  scripture  on  this  sub- 
ject,— 

“ As  long  as  life  its  term  extends, 

Hope’s  blest  dominion  never  ends; 

For  while  the  lamp  holds  out  to  burn, 

The  vilest  sinner  may  return.” 

Nevertheless,  there  is  no  passage  in  the  Bible  in  which  old 
age  is  said  to  be  the  time  to  seek  the  Lord.  Reason  tells  us 
that  is  far  easier,  as  well  as  far  more  reasonable,  to  give  God 
youth  with  its  glistening  dew,  its  first-fruits,  its  full  powers, 
its  noble  impulses,  and  its  fresh  affections. 

Observation  assures  us  that  as  a matter  of  fact,  few  only 
seek  and  find  the  Lord  in  old  age,  however  numerous  the  op- 
portunities afforded  them.  “ 1 made  an  examination,”  says 
the  late  Dr.  Spencer,  “ of  the  time  of  life  at  which  253  hope- 
ful conversions  in  my  congregation  took  place.  Of  the  two 
hundred  and  fifty-three,  there  were  converted  under  twenty 
years  of  age,  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight;  between  twenty  and 
thirty  years  of  age,  eighty -five;  between  thirty  and  forty, 
twenty-two ; between  forty  and  fifty,  four;  between  fifty  and 
sixty,  three;  between  sixty  and  seventy,  one — just  one ; beyond 
seventy,  not  one!”  What  a warning  to  those  who  are  not 
seizing  in  youth  the  opportunities  afforded  them  to  seek  the 
Lord ! The  experiment  of  that  distinguished  pastor  should  be 
heralded  everywhere.  It  contains  facts  which  every  student 


16 


should  be  acquainted  with  before  he  leaves  school  or  college. 
Here  they  are — if  he  delay  coming  to  Christ  until  he  is  twenty 
years  old,  he  has  lost  more  than  half  the  probabilities  of  com- 
ing which  he  had  at  twelve!  If  he  delay  coming  until  he  is 
thirty  years  old,  he  has  lost  three-fourths  of  the  probabilities 
of  salvation  which  he  had  at  twenty ! If  he  delay  until  he  is 
forty  years  old,  only  twenty-nine  probabilities  out  of  a thou- 
sand remain  to  him ! If  he  delay  until  he  is  fifty  years  of  age, 
there  remain  to  him  only  fourteen  out  of  a thousand!  What 
a solemn  warning! 

Opportunities  are  afforded  in  youth  not  only  to  seek  the 
Lord,  but,  also,  to  develop  the  powers  indispensably  necessary 
to  perform  well  the  duties  of  life.  The  leisure,  the  quick  dis- 
cernment, the  retentive  memory  and  the  eager  curiosity  which 
render  the  mind  capable  of  development  and  discipline  belong 
almost  exclusively  to  youth.  If  one  has  neglected  his  early 
education  he  cannot  acquire  it  late  in  life;  if  he  has  put  off 
learning  a branch  of  business,  or  a difficult  trade,  until  he  has 
passed  middle  age  he  will  never  be  able  to  master  its  details. 
Ho  one  can  become  efficient,  thoroughly  useful,  or  perhaps 
truly  happy  as  a Christian,  unless  he  begins  in  youth  to 
serve  the  Lord.  Keligion  has  its  duties  for  those  who  are 
about  to  enter  life;  and  upon  the  right  performance  of  these 
depends  the  preparation  necessary  for  the  higher  and  nobler 
duties  of  more  advanced  years  and  old  age.  Christian  life  is 
valuable  only  for  what  men  make  out  of  it,  and  do  with  it. 
Faith  in  God  may  mint  it  into  precious  currency  bearing  the 
image  and  superscription  of  the  King  of  Kings;  fidelity  to 
duty  may  make  it  resplendent  with  lovliness,  and  more  preci- 
ous than  rubies  ; brotherly  kindness  may  convert  its  discords 
and  distractions  into  harmony  and  peace;  and  charity  may 
mould  it  into  shapes  as  beautiful  as  the  pity  of  the  good  Sam- 
aritan, or  as  cheering  as  the  ministry  of  a Howard  or  a Flor- 
ence Hightingale. 

What  you  make  of  the  precious  life  given  you,  my  young 
friends,  depends  largely  on  what  you  do  now:  “The  artist,” 
using  the  figure  of  another,  “ who  has  a block  of  marble  put  into 
his  hands  that  he  may  shape  out  of  it  a Himrod  or  an  angel, 


17 


may  defer  to  do  anything,  till  to  him,  though  he  shapes  no 
Nimrod  out  of  it, the  block  is  worthless.”  So,  only  worse,  it  may 
be  with  you  who  are  not  busily  engaged  in  shaping  your  life 
aright.  The  block  put  into  your  hands  is  crumbling.  Every 
moment  chips  off  a minute  fragment,  and,  already,  perhaps  its 
integrity  is  gone.  It  is  full  time  for  you  to  determine  between 
the  Nimrod  and  the  angel. 

In  youth  opportunities  are  afforded,  also,  to  fortify  one’s 
self  against  those  dangers  in  life  which  I have  already  hinted 
at.  Without  God’s  guidance  and  the  support  of  religion,  the 
young  enter  the  world  as  vessels  go  out  to  sea  with  their  sails 
spread  to  every  breeze,  but  without  a chart,  without  a rudder 
and  without  a pilot,  to  be  tossed  to  and  fro  on  its  angry  waves 
and  to  fight  with  the  storm,  liable  at  any  moment  to  be  dashed 
on  some  hidden  rock  or  be  swallowed  up  by  a treacherous  eddy. 
Entering  life  with  a lively  imagination,  with  impulses  strong, 
oft-times  impetuous,  with  expectations  eager  and  lofty,  with  a 
reason  not  yet  strengthened  by  years  of  experience,  and  a judg- 
ment undisciplined  by  cares  and  trials,  youth  are  in  danger  of 
being  carried  away  by  the  allurements  of  the  world.  Nothing 
will  render  them  safe  but  early  piety,  extending  its  influence 
to  the  understanding,  the  affections  and  the  will. 

Young  men  and  women  of  the  University , Academy , and 
Ferry  Hall: — I close  by  asking  a question  which  I hope  you, 
Seniors,  will  carry  with  you  to  the  broad  world  you  are  about 
to  enter;  and  you,  undergraduates,  to  the  vacation  you  are 
about  to  take;  it  is  this:  Have  you  as  yet  sought  and  found 
the  Lord?  If  you  have  not,  seek  him  now,  resolve  to  find  him 
before  you  go  forth.  Choose  him  this  moment  to  be  the  guide 
of  your  youth.  You  will  run  a terrible  risk  if  you  enter 
upon  the  cares  and  conflicts  of  the  world  without  God. 
“ Every  day  that  you  live  makes  it,”  in  the  words  of  another, 
“ less  likely  that  you  will  find  him.”  Every  day  that  you  live 
puts  another  shackle  on  your  wrist  and  another  fetter  on  your 
foot.  Every  day  that  you  live  takes  away  some  of  the  power 
of  resolving,  and  takes  away  some  motive  to  resolve.  Every 
day  adds  to  the  heap  of  wasted  hours  that  you  will  carry  re- 
gretfully with  you  to  your  graves,  if  ever  you  give  the  trust  of 


18 


jour  spirits,  the  love  of  your  hearts,  and  the  obedience  of  your 
lives  to  Christ.  There  are  men  in  this  community,  perhaps  in 
this  congregation,  who  would  give  ail  that  they  are  worth  for 
that  power  of  choosing  a course  for  their  lifetime,  which  you, 
young  man  and  young  woman,  have  to-day — who  would  give 
up  all  that  they  are  worth  to  tear  up  the  scroll  of  past  years 
that  is  written  with  the  record  of  their  godlessness  and  trans- 
gression— who  would  give  all  that  they  are  wTorth  for  one 
return  of  the  early  childish*  days  when  the  heart  was  plastic 
and  soft  to  receive  impressions — when  the  conscience  w^as  sen- 
sitive to  respond  to  the  voice  of  God,  and  when  long  persist- 
ence in  the  attitude  of  rejection  had  not  so  stiffened  the  will  as 
to  make  the  opening  of  the  long- clenched  hand  all  but  im- 
possible. 

“ Nowr,  whilst  your  days  are  in  their  bud  and  blossom — now, 
whilst  your  hearts  have  not  learnt  all  the  deceitfulness  of  sin — 
now,  whilst  your  natures  have  not  been  corrupted  by  much 
knowledge  of  evil— now,  whilst  the  world  all  about  you  is 
beautiful  with  the  mysterious  light  of  early  days — now,  whilst 
the  heart,  and  will,  and  habit  are  all  ready  to  be  molded  aright 
—now,  whilst  you  have  life  before  you  that  may  be  made 
sacred  and  beautiful,  wise  and  righteous,  full  of  Christ  and 
love  for  men,”  seek  the  Lord. 


